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NavSource Online:Motor Torpedo Boat Photo Archive

PT-108

Completed 7 July 1942, placed in service and assigned to Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron FIVE (PTRon 5) under the command of Comdr. Henry Farrow, USN

PTRon 5 operated in the Panama Canal Zone area beginning in September 1942 and was transported across the Pacific to the Solomon Islands in the spring of 1943. It moved forward to Rendova, in the Central Solomons, in July

1943. During the next two months the "Plywood Bastard" took part in a number of engagements with the enemy. She was present during the 1-2 August night action in the Blackett Strait that resulted in the loss of her

sister boat PT-109. The following night, while patrolling off Vella Lavella, she and her companions were repeatedly attacked by Japanese aircraft, but she was not damaged. However, on 22 August she participated in a daylight

raid against the coast of Kolombangara and was repeatedly struck by enemy fire, suffering serious casualties among her crew. She remained with PTRon 5 during the rest of the Central Solomons and Admiralties campaign

Transferred 15 February 1945 to the Southwest Pacific area where she was reassigned to Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron TEN (PTRon 10) under the command of Lt. Christopher B. Armat, USNR

PTRon 10, assigned to the South Pacific, had action at Rendova, Vella Lavella, Treasury, Bougainville, and Green. Transferred to the Southwest Pacific in April 1944, the squadron had action at Saidor New Guinea; Morotai, in the

Halmaheras; and at Balikpapan, Borneo. The squadron also based for a time at Mios Woendi, Dutch New Guinea, and at Samar, P.I., but had no action from these bases

With the other surviving boats of the squadron, the "Lil' Duck", ex-"8 Boat" was placed out of service 11 November 1945 stripped and destroyed at Samar, Philippines.

Specifications:

Displacement 56 t.

Length 80'

Beam 20' 8"

Draft 5'

Speed 41 kts.

Complement 17

Armament: One single 40mm mount, four 21" torpedoes, one 37mm mount, one 20mm mount and two twin .50 cal. machine guns

Photo showing the construction of the charthouse and day cabin of an 80' Elco boat, circa 1942. The unit is built in jigs, to ensure a proper fit. The 3360 scribbled on the day cabin indicates that this unit belongs to hull No. 3360 (later PT-108)Photo courtesy of the Electric Boat Company, Elco Works, Bayonne, NJ from "Allied Coastal Forces of World War II: Vol. II" by John Lambert and Al Ross